For the attention of those contractors who have are offering the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service Winter 24/25
Dear Contractor
The Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service launched on 1 December 2024 for two months initially.
Live training was provided at an ECHO session which has been recorded and is available to view on the ECHO Moodle site for those who were unable to attend the live session.
All resources in relation to the service including promotional material is available on the BSO website. Service posters should have been provided by SPPG and should be displayed in the pharmacy.
Social cards to be used on social media platforms include:
CPNI have developed a training PowerPoint presentation that can be accessed on the CPNI website under Pharmacy First for Sore Throat to further aid contractors and pharmacists in offering the service.
If you require any further information on the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service Winter 24/25 please contact CPNI offices.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
Correspondence has been issued today by SPPG regarding community pharmacy rota remuneration.
SUMMARY
A review of community pharmacy rota remuneration has been carried out by SPPG in conjunction with CPNI and recurrent rates have been set effective from 1st December 2024.
Weekday rota hourly rate: £108
Sunday rota hourly rate: £250
Public holiday rota hourly rate: £500
SPPG request that rota claims are submitted in a timely manner and should be included with your second monthly submission to BSO.
Going forward, pharmacies that provide a public holiday rota should submit a claim form to BSO for payment.
Review the SPPG correspondence issued today regarding community pharmacy rota remuneration.
Contact local SPPG offices for further information regarding this correspondence.
CPNI colleagues are also available to assist with any queries.
Yours sincerely,
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued guidance dated 18 December 2024 detailing upcoming changes under Windsor Framework arrangements from 1 January 2025.
Background
The Windsor Framework sets out the long-term arrangements for the supply of medicines into Northern Ireland. It will ensure that human medicines can be approved and licensed on a UK-wide basis by the UK competent authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and provides for the disapplication of EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) safety features for medicines marketed and supplied in NI.
The guidance covers topics including:
Changes to Medicine Authorisations
EU FMD which will no longer apply in NI from 1 January 2025
Labelling and Packaging
The guidance also contains links to other supporting documents, and pharmacy contractors may find the section on FAQs particularly helpful.
Action
Contractors are asked to:
Note the recent correspondence detailing the upcoming changes under Windsor Framework arrangements (including FMD) from 1 January 2025;
Note the additional guidance which is linked to the letter and, in particular, the FAQs which can be found here; and
Ensure that all relevant dispensary staff are made aware of the arrangements.
The Department of Health’s Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) has issued correspondence dated 16 December 2024 in respect of a planned change to the process for notifying the CDAO of controlled drugs concerns and incidents. The documents can be accessed here and here.
On 6 January 2025, it is planned that the CDAO notification process will move to an online reporting mechanism specifically for Northern Ireland which is available at www.cdreporting.co.uk.
Action
Contractors are asked to:
Note the recent correspondence detailing the new online reporting system;
Note that the new reporting system was covered in an ECHO session on the 19 November 2024 and is available to watch again at Dashboard | Project ECHO, and that a guide is also appended to the CDAO letter; and
Ensure that all relevant dispensary staff are made aware of the new system.
If you have any queries, please direct them in the first instance to SPPGCDOccurrence@hscni.net. CPNI colleagues are also here to help you.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service
Dear Colleague
SPPG have issued correspondence providing an update in relation to the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme.
SUMMARY
The target date of 6 December 2024 for completion of care home vaccinations has now passed. Any outstanding vaccination records should be added to VMS as soon as possible to ensure clinical governance and to provide assurance to the PHA and DoH that residents are vaccinated.
The CPVS service specification states: ‘A vaccination record should be made on VMS on the same date as the vaccination’. Payment is based on the record being added to the system.
High-risk poultry and avian animal health workers are eligible for the flu vaccination this Autumn 2024 and have been added to the list of eligible cohorts. Further information can be found in the CMO letter here.
VMS has been updated to include the option of ‘bird culler’ when selecting patient risk category.
The vaccination download report on VMS has been updated to only include records from the past 18 months. All patient records and vaccination history will still be visible on VMS and will not be affected by this change.
The correspondence includes the schedule for Movianto over the Christmas holidays. The last delivery dates before Christmas and New Year will be 24th December 2024 and 31st December 2024. Orders should be placed in a timely manner.
Due to annual stock taking at Movianto, orders for Flu vaccines only, that are needed for 31st December 2024 will need to be placed by 10am on Monday 30th December 2024. NB: Any orders that include Covid vaccines will need to be placed on Tuesday 24th December to be delivered by 31st December 2024.
ACTION
Contractors providing the service should:
Read CPVS Update Four and share will all relevant teams members.
Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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